Information for Panellists and Workshop leaders

Firstly, THANK YOU.

Panellist Perks

You have been invited for panel because we believe that you have something incredibly important and valuable to say, we also trust in your professionalism. Chapter.Con 2017 is our first Con, please be patient with us. Everybody will be doing their very best to ensure you have the most fabulous time.

Be Independent. (But we're there to help if you need us!)There will be a small collection of stewards but we anticipate they will be very busy what with it being new to everybody. Please can we make a request that you take independent responsibility for being in the right place at the right time. Full print out schedules will be made available to you. We will be live on Twitter for emergency shout outs, and there will be schedule print outs

What will panel structures look like? We are currently negotiating spaces for the convention, but it is most likely that PANELS will take place in a small lecture theatre. There will be a panellist table which will seat 4-6 panellists per panel.

You may place a copy of your book on a clear plastic stand in front of your space, but please don't cover your face.

There will be a panel chairperson who will guide the panel session, deliver pre-submitted questions and manage questions from the floor.

You will be asked to make a simple opening greeting, in which you are more than welcome to draw attention to your book.

There will be a table near the door of the panel room where you may set up a leaflet / business card box.

How long will a panel session last? Panels will last approximately 45 minutes.

How many panels will there be? We are planning on having 5 panels across the Friday.

1. DREAMS v. REALITY 10.15-11.00amSamantha Young. Christina Benjamin. Donna Dull. Jo Thomas. How do you move from making that dream of being an author into reality? What are some of the rude wake up calls about the life of an author? How do you know when you've made it? Mistakes to avoid? The best decisions you made?

5. THE HOT TOPIC OF ROMANCE 3.15-4.00pmZak Jane Keir. Sandra Robinson. L.A Cotton. Anna BloomWhat's the difference between Romance and Erotica - or have the lines blurred? Post 50 Shades phenomenonHow much sex is too much sex?What makes a good romance story?Pet peeves in Romance?Marketing Romance and keeping Romance readers Satisfied. As well as panels there will be a BLOGGERS' LUNCH workshop

There are also workshops open to the public on Saturday which will be an hour long. Anybody involved in running those will also be entitled to the panellist THANK YOU gift.Teen Writing Workshop Teen Blogging WorkshopAdult 2hr workshop - so you want to be a writer?

FYI: OPENING CHAPTERSDue to the huge numbers of panellist applications and feeling bad about turning folks down. We have put on an additional event called OPENING CHAPTERS. It is currently still in planning stage but the idea is to have 4 x 45 minute reading sessions on the SATURDAY PUBLIC SIGNING DAY where 3-4 authors get 10-15 minute slots to read their opening chapter and take a Q&A. This will be an open to the public event with first come first served allocations --- we have in mind a giant tepee? (We will see!)

If you are already a panellist I am afraid you are currently exempt from this opportunity; although you will be the first people we will ask before opening it up to a wider group. Thank you for your understanding in this.